Valve



April 24, 1951 K, MacDoNALD 2,550,418

VALVE Filed Oct. 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m EDEDDDDDDPDDDDEDDDDDDDDDS) @CCQQQCCGQQQCCQQQQGQQQ QQQQ@ /fA M46 ,O0/VAL@ INVENTOR BY @you ATTO R N EY April 24, 1951 K. MaCDoNALD VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5, 1945 INENTOR BY 'a ATTORNEY MIM w vPatented pr. 24, V19t-"afl A VALVEy Karl MacDonald,v Wellsville, N. Y., assigner to Worthington Pump and Machinery 4Corporation, Harrison, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application `Oct-ober 5, 1945, Serial No. 620,480 j This invention relates tc valves, and more particularly to hand operated nozzle control valves usedl on steam turbines to regulate the effective nozzle area `of a steam turbine.

Thesyalves which are manually operated are employed to^ control the flow of operating steam to nozzle groups of a steam turbine to obtain overload with rated steam conditionsreturned loadw'ith the reduced steam pressure, economical part load operation, etc. These valves, extending into and through the steam inlet ring of a steam turbine, are subjected to the temperature vof ths'tea'm which causes expansion of certain valve-parts,` especially the valve stem which is contacted-by the steam flowing to the turbine nozzles. The direct contact of the steam `with the valve stem causes a greater degree of expansionkof the stem than oi the parts of the valve which `are exteriorof the steam ring, resulting in a binding of the valve stem to such a degree that a wrench is required to operate the valve.

2 It is an object of the present invention to provide/fa valvestructure for the above described and analogous uses wherein the valve or parts thereof are subjected to high temperatures and uneven expansion, which vvalve embodies means to .prevent binding of the valve parts upon expansion, and also means to dissipate heat from the valve parts so` that the valve may lat all timesbe operated by hand without the use of leveragetools;

VWithjthese and other objects in view, asmay appearhfrom the accompanying speciiication, the invention consists of various features of construction and combination of parts, which will be irst` described in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing a valve of a preferred form embodying the invention, and the features forming the invention will be speciiically pointed out ni-n the claims. v

Inthe drawings;

Figure 1l is afragmentary view `in section of a part of a steam turbine showing the location of the improved valves. Figure Zisa vertical section through the improved valve.

Figure is a cross section on the line 3--3 of Figure 2. Y -Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through a modified form of the valve.

Figure 5 is a cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure'4. Y,

fFigure `6l vis a' longitudinal section through a further modified form of the valve structure. i Referring more particularly tothe drawings,

10 Claims. (Cl. 251-49) the steam inlet nozzles of a steam turbine which deliver the steam to the blades 2 of the turbine are, as shown inpFigure l of the drawings, isolated in groups to receive and project the steam by the various partitions 3 in the steam inlet ring d of the turbine into which steam flows from the inlet 5 under control of the inlet valve 6. The partitions 3 have steam inlet openings l therein through which steam from the steam ring l flows to the nozzles I in the group isolated by the respective partitions, and the valve of the presentV invention constitutes the hand operated valve structure I8 which is carried by the casing 3 of the turbine and controls the flow of steam through the ports l.

The preferred form of the valve structure shown in Figures 2 and 3 comprises valve head i which seats against a valve seat formed on the `removable Valve seat ring E2 to cut off the flow of steam from the steam ring through the partition 3. The valve head I is shown as removably carried by a valve stem I3 through the medium of a removable connecting ring I4 and a hanged head I5 formed on the end of the valve stem` |3. The valve stem I3 extends through the packing 6 carried by the valve attaching body I7 and has a threaded portion I8 thereon near its outermost end which is threadably engaged in the threaded bore |9 formed in the sleeve-like extension 2|! of the bonnet or packing follower 2|. The bonnet cr packing follower 2| which is in the form of a flat disc having the sleeve 20 formed at one side thereof, and the packing engaging extension 22 formed at the other side is attached to the valve attaching body by means of bolts 23 which also serve to attach the body |'I to the turbine casing 8. The packing follower 2| has flat surface en gagementwith the valve attaching body ii, and it has an annular recess 24 cut in its inner side which reduces the thickness of a part of the follower 2| to provide a spring-like portion to permit yielding of the inner central portion of the follower under stress relative to the outer rim portion, which outer rim portion is bolted to the turbine casing 3 so as to accommodate expansion of the valve stem I3 when it is subjected to the high temperature of steam flowing to the nozzles I through the steam ring 4. 4

It is understood, of course, that the bonnet 2| is constructed of metal which has a sufficient degree of elasticity to permit such spring-like or yieldable movement. The bonnet 2| is provided with a plurality of Vent openings 2 5 which vent the chamber formed by the cut-away portion 24 of the bonnet. The sleeve-like extension 20 has a plurality of longitudinally spaced radiating fins 26 formed thereon to dissipate heat for further co-operation with the yielding movement of the central portion of the bonnet body to prevent the threads I8 of the valve stem I3 from becoming wedged or sticking in the threads of the threaded bore I9 of the sleeve-like extension 2U upon expansion ofthe valve stem.

It will be noted that the sleeve-like extension 20, and, consequently, the threaded portion of the stem I3 are positioned beyond the valve attaching body I'I so that they are practically located as far as they may possibly be from the point of contact with steam with the valve stem, and also so that the sleeve-like extension 20 being relatively thin in proportion tothe portion of the body I 'I which extends into the steam ring 4 and being completely surrounded by air will dissipate heat transmitted thereto from the valve stem.

The packing follower 2I has a second chamber 28 formed therein which extends about a part of the threaded portion of the stem I3, and this chamber is vented to atmosphere by a port 29.

The valve stem I3 may have a hand wheel 3i) or any other suitable means thereon to facilitate its manual operation.

A modified form of the valve structure is shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the Idrawings, and this modified form of valve structure is identical with the preferred form of valve structure shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive in all respects, excepting as to the construction of the packing follower, The stem E3 of the modified form of the valve structure carries the valve head I I' which cooperates with the valve seat I2. The stem I3 extends outwardly through the valve attaching body I'I and has a threaded portion I8 formed thereon which threadably engages in the threaded bore 3| of the sleeve-like extension 32 of the packing follower 33. The packing follower 33 is bolted to the attaching body Il and to the turbine casing Il by attaching bolts 23',

Instead of having a portion cut away to prolvide the yielding spring-like part of the packing follower as does the packing follower 2 I, the packingfollower 33 of the modified form has a bellowslike structure 34 formed thereon between the main disc-like body 35 of the follower and the sleeve-like extension 32. This bellows-likestructure 34 consists of a plurality of relatively thin radiating iin-like members, the adjacent ones of which are joined at both their inner and outer ends so as to form, in effect, a bellows as is clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. This bellowslike structure being thinner than the remaining portions of the follower 33, provides a springlike connection between the sleeve 32 and the body 35 of the follower 33 to permit yielding movement of the sleeve 32 under stress applied thereto by the expanding action of the threaded portion I8 of the steml I3', and thus prevent excessive binding of the threaded portion of the stem in the sleeve 32 and will permit the valve to be operated by hand at all times.

The sleeve-like extension 32 and the bellowslike structure 34 are, as is the sleeve-like extension 25, disposed outwardly of the outer face of thev follower body 35 so that they are completely surrounded by atmosphere and are at the farthest point from the steam ring Il' of the turbine, and the bellows-like struct-ure 35 will dissipate heat in the same manner or probably to a greater extent4V than will the hns 25. The chanifler 36which 4 surrounds a portion of the valve stem I3 is vented to atmosphere by a vent opening 37.

Figure 6 of the drawings shows a further modifled form of the valve structure, wherein the valve stem 50 extends through and is threadably connected at 5I to the gland follower 52. The follower 52 compresses the packing 53 located in the bonnet 54. Anan-nular spacer ring 55 is formed upon the gland follower 52 and engages or lies fiat against the outer surface of the head 56 of the bonnet 54l The spacing ring 55 has holes 51 bored therethrough at spaced points.

A spring ring or element 58 rests upon the spacer ring 55y and is welded or otherwise attached to the gland follower 52 at the inner perimeter of thespring ring, so as to keep the spring ring from turning. The spring ring or element 58, the spacing ring 55, and the head 5G of the bonnet are attached to the turbine casing 59 by bolts 60.

The spring ring 55 will yield soas to accommodate, or compensate for expansion of the valve stem 5I) and prevent binding of the threaded portion of the stem in the gland follower 52.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction or arrangement of parts shown, but that they may be widely modied within the invention defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a valve, a housing, an attaching body attached to said housing, packing in said attaching body a packing followerattachedto said housing and engaging said packing, a valve stem extending through said packing and movable in the follower and housing, an internally threaded sleeve extension formed on said follower, said valve stem having a threaded portion engaging in said threaded sleeve extension, said sleeve extension havingv a plurality of ris radiating from its outer surface to form heat dissipating means.

.2'. In avalve, a housing,` an attaching body attached to said housing, packing in said attaching Y body a packing follower attached to said housing andengagaing said packing, a valve'stem extending through saidpacking and movable inthefollower and housing, an internally threaded sleeve extension formed ony said follower', said valve stem having a threaded portion engaging in said threaded sleeve extension, Vsaid sleeve extension having a plurality of ns radiating from its outer surface to form heat dissipating means, saidfollower having a relatively' thin spring-'like portion formed thereon which will yield under stress to prevent binding action ofthe valve stem in the threaded sleeve.

3. In a valve, a housing., an attaching body attached to said housing, packing in said attaching body a packing follower attached to sa'id housing and engaging said packing, avalve stem extending through said packing and movable in the follower and housingan internally threaded sleeve extension formed on said follower, said valve stem having a threaded portion engaging in said threaded sleeve extension, saidsleeve extension having a plurality of fins radiatirigirom its outer surface to form heat dissipating means, said fins being in the form of a bellows to form a spring-like portion of the follower'whichwill yield under stress to preventbindingof the valve stem in the threaded sleeve extension.

4. In a valve, a housing, anv attaching body attached to said housing,v packing in said attaching body a packing' follower attached to Said housing engaging said packing and having a sleeve-like extension formed thereon part of the bore of which, extension is internally threaded,

l stem having a threaded portion engaging in the threaded portion of the sleeve-like extension, said follower being constructed of metal having some elasticity and embodying a relatively thin portion which will yield under stress to prevent .binding of the valve stem and follower, a .por-

tion of the bore of said sleeve-like extension being of larger diameter than the diameter of said valve stem to form a chamber; said follower having a vent opening therein venting said chamber to atmosphere.

6. In a valve, a housing, an attaching body at- -tached to said housing, packing in said attaching body a packing follower attached to said housing engaging said packing and having a sleeve-like extension formed thereon part of the bore of which extension is internally threaded, a valve stem extending through said packing and having a threaded portion engaging in the threaded portion of the sleeve-like extension, said follower being constructed of metal having some elasticity and embodying a relatively thin portion which will yield under stress to prevent binding of the valve stem and follower, said sleevel like extension having radiating extensions on its a valve attaching-body, said follower having a flat surface for engagement with said attachingbody and having a sleeve-like extension formed thereon part of the bore of which is internally threaded, a valve stem having a threaded portion engaging'in the threaded portion of the sleevelike extension, a portion of said follower extending inwardly from said flat surface being cut away to form an annular recess and reduce the thickness of the follower to form a spring-like portion which will yield under stress to prevent binding of the valve stem and follower.

8. In a valve, a housing, a packing follower, a Valve attaching-body, said follower having a ilat surface for engagement with said attaching-body and having a sleeve-like extension formed'thereon part of the bore of which is internally treaded, a valve stem having a threaded portion engaging in the threaded portion of the sleeve-like extension, a portion of said follower extending inwardly from said flat surface being cut away to form an annular recess and reduce the thickness of 'the follower to form a spring-like portion which will yield under stress to prevent binding of the valve stem and follower, said sleeve-like extension having a plurality of radiating extensions on its outer surface to form heat dissipating means.

9. In a valve, a housing, a packing follower, a valve attaching-body, said follower having a flat surface for engagement with said attaching-body and having a sleeve-like extension formed thereon part of the bore of which is internally threaded, a valve stem having a threaded portion engaging in the threaded portion of the sleeve-like extension, a portion of said follower extending inwardly from said flat surface being cut away to form an annular recess and reduce the thickness of the follower to form a spring-like portion which will yield under stress to prevent binding of the valve stem and follower, said follower provided with a plurality of openings forming vents for the chamber formed by said annular recess.

10. In a valve, a housing, a packing follower, a

valve attaching-body, said follower having a flat surface for engagement with said attaching-body and having a sleeve-like extension formed thereon part of the bore of which is internally threaded, a valve stem having a threaded portion of the sleeve-like extension, a portion of said follower extending inwardly from said flat surface being cut away to form an annular recess and reduce the thickness of the follower to form a springlike portion which will yield under stress to prevent binding of the valve stem and follower, said follower provided with a plurality of openings forming vents for the chamber formed by said annular recess, the unthreaded portion of the bore of said sleeve-like extension being greater in diameter than the diameter of the valve stem to form a leakage receiving chamber, said follower being provided with a vent opening therein opening into said chamber.

KARL MACDONALD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,697,608 Patterson Jan. 1, 1929 1,719,801 Duilleld July 2, 1929 1,831,713 v Knowlton Nov. 10, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 22,349 Great Britain of 1900 627,866 Germany of 1933 

